Table 3.

Effect of ginseng on respiratory infections in human clinical trials

Study site	Disease state	Parameters	Ginseng (type)	Dosage	Results	Ref
Republic of Korea NCT01478009	Influenza-like illness (ILI)	(30-70 years years) N = 100	KRGE	9 capsules/day for 3 months	Reduced ILI incidence	[96]
Alberta, Canada	Acute Respiratory infection	(≥65 years) N = 43	COLD-fX,	Freeze-dried extract for 4 months using 2 capsules/day (200 mg/capsule)	Reduced risk and duration of colds and flu.	[97]
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada	Upper respiratory infections	(≥65) N = 783	COLD-fX	Oral extract for 6 months	Safe, well tolerated, and effective as seasonal prophylaxis in duration of Jackson-confirmed URIs in healthy adults	[98]
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada	Common colds	(≥18 years) N = 747	(P. quinquefolius or P. ginseng) root extract		Reduced the total number and shortened the duration of ARIs by 25% and 6.2 days respectively.	[99]
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.	Laboratory-confirmed ARI	(≥60) N = 198	COLD-fX	200 mg capsule Oral extract twice-daily for 12 weeks	LCII and RSV illness was more severe in placebo than COLD-fX-treated patients.	[100]
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada	Cold prevention	(18 - 65 years) N = 323	American ginseng	2 capsules/day (200 mg/capsule) as freeze-dried extract capsules for 4 months	Effective in reducing the absolute risk of recurrent colds and the mean number of colds per person.	[101]
University of Alberta/Capital Health, Canada NCT00255307	Upper respiratory tract Infection (URTI)	(3 - 12 Years) N = 75	COLD-fX,	Oral aqueous solution for 6 months, adjusted to child weight	Well tolerated and appropriate for short-term use in children for URTI treatment	[102]
China (ACTRN: 12613000382774).	COPD	(57-73 years) N = 14	Panax ginseng (Ren shen)	200 mg twice daily for four weeks	COPD exacerbations or adverse events	[104]
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada NCT00965822	Upper Respiratory Tract Infection	(3-11 Years) N = 293	COLD-fX	3 day, once daily, dosing by oral route for 14 days	No results
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada NCT00726401	Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (hay fever)	(12 - 75 years) N = 200	COLD-fX	200 mg twice daily for 4 weeks	No results
China, Hong Kong, Two General Outpatient Clinics	Acute Upper Respiratory Tract Infection	(≥18 Years), N = 327	CHM 1. Wind-cold syndrome received treatment of Jing Fang Bai Du san 2. Wind-heat syndrome received treatment of Ying Qiao san	Sachets granules, Oral route at day 7	Jing Fang Bai Du san relieved and effectively cleared up the pathogenic cold. Ying Qiao san effectively cleared up the pathogenic heat.
Wake Forest University, USA NCT00752895	ARI + chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)	(≥18 years) N = 293	COLD-fX	Oral extract for 3 months twice a day	Profound reduction in rates of moderate-severe ARI and sore throat, suggesting increased rates of seroconversion. Enhanced antibody responses	[109]
Italy	Influenza	48 years, Mean 58% males, N = 227	Standardized extract of ginseng root Ginsana G 115 (114)	Oral daily capsule contains 100 mg for 12 weeks	NK increased two fold in the G115 group and is able to protect against common cold and influenza.	[110]
Republic of Korea NCT01478009	Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI)	(30-70 years) N = 100	Korean Red Ginseng Extract	3 times/day, 9 capsules/day, (3g/day) for 12 weeks	Effective in reducing duration and scores of ARI symptoms.	[111]
Republic of Korea NCT03028077	Acute Respiratory infection	(39-65 years) N = 45	1. GS-3K8 (ultra-filtered red ginseng extract) 2. GINst15 (hydrolyzed ginseng extract)	6 cap/day, 500 mg/cap for 8 weeks	Reduced the symptoms and duration of ARI.	[112]

ARI, acute respiratory illness; CHM, Chinese herbal medicine; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; LCCUs, laboratory-confirmed clinical upper respiratory infections; LCII, laboratory-confirmed influenza illness; NCT, clinical trial number; URTI, upper respiratory tract infection; KRGE, Korean Red Ginseng extract; RSV, respiratory syncytial virus